Sterling silver.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. .i

EDWARD D. GLEASON', OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO RICHARD H. KING, OF

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

STERLING SILVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 18, 1916.

No Drawing. Application filed August 24, 1911, Serial No. 645,690. Renewed October 9, 1915. Serial To all whom it may concern:

Be'it known that I, EDWARD D. GLEASON of the borough of Brooklyn, in the county 0 Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sterling Silver, whereof the following is a specification.

The term sterling silver. is limited by statute to a silver alloy containing at least .925 of silver, and, the balance of .075 usually consists of copper. Such sterling silver not only quickly oxidizes upon exposure to the atmosphere, but is readily corroded upon exposure to any material capable of corroding copper, such corrosion being manifested by a green discoloration beginning at the surface of the metal and extending within the latteras the corrosion proceeds. Therefore, such sterling silver is objectionable as a material for the production of articles of table ware, because of its liability to discoloration ande destruction upon ex posure to fruit acids, sodium chlorid, etc.

It is the object of my invention to provide a sterling silver wherein cadmium is substituted for copper; with the advantage that the metal is rendered incapable of producing the green discoloration aforesaid and more capable of resisting the attack of fruit acids, etc.

'1:herefore, my invention consists in providmg a silver alloy containing .925 of silver mixed with cadmium, and, preferably .075 of cadmium.

An alloy may be produced in accordance with my invention by fusing the silver, covering thefused mass with powdered borax;

heating said mass to approximately the boilmg point of silver, the proper temperature being indicated by slight ebullition of the mass, and then adding fragments of cadmium to the molten silver while the latter is agitated; care being taken to introduce the cadmium as quickly as possible beneath the covering of borax. However, I do .not desire to limit myself to the precise procedure hereinbefore described as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of my invention as defined in the following claim..

I claim Sterling silver including .925 of silver, alloyed with cadmium.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at New York, New York, this twenty-second day of August, 1911.

EDWARD D. GLEASON. Witnesses:

; Riemann H. KING,

JNO. R. Wear. 

